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“We have tried in vain to get the Swedish Trade Federation (Svensk Handel) to take its responsibility and negotiate a contract with us to thereby avoid industrial action. As a last resort, we are now forced to issue a notice of industrial action at warehouses and stores around the country. The strike will take place on 13 April, unless we conclude an agreement before then”.

“We have been waiting for Svensk Handel to resume the negotiations directly with us, but they have not acted. Now we have exhausted all other possibilities and have no other choice but to issue a strike warning”, says Lars-Anders Häggström, President of UNI Swedish commerce affiliate Handels.

Important matters are at stake

For Handel’s members, it is important to get wage increases calculated in SEK Swedish Krona, as many of our sectors have low to average wages. But Svensk Handel has submitted an across-the-board percentage increase, which means that those with the lowest wages will fall behind and get less money in their wallets compared to other categories of workers who earn more. We think this is unfair as they do not have lower rents or cost of living.

Other groups have already received an extra several hundred SEK in new wages per month compared to Svensk Handel’s bid. The employer’s bid means that our members, most of whom are women, would fall behind and get less money in their wallets compared to other categories of workers who already earn more money. We cannot accept a proposal that cements such unfair pay differences.

“Important issues are at stake. We have strong support from our members and we know that they are prepared to take up the battle”, says Lars-Anders Häggström.

Handels will be the first union that pushes the Swedish Trade Union Confederation’s (LO) to coordinate bargaining claims, both in terms of equal pay and fixed term contracts. Handel’s demand for secure employment includes, among other things, increased union influence in the use of temporary agency work, right to access to full-time jobs and limitations for temporary agency work.